Sliced bread wrapping table



Dec. 25, 1934.

' H. C. SIMMONS sLIcED BREAD WRAPPING TABLE 5 Shee'ts-Sheet l Filed April 27, 1.932

Dec. 25, 1934. C, SlMMONS 1,985,466

l SLICED BREAD WRAPPING TABLE Filed April 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec 25, 1934. H, c. SIMMONS SLICED BREAD WRAPPING TABLE Filed April 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 25, 1934 suomi BREAD wnArPlNG TABIE Hari C. Simmons, Davenport, Iowa, signor to The Micro Corporation; Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation o! Delaware Application April 27, 1932, Serial No. 607,666

9 Claims.

This invention relates to wrapping and packaging and has special reference to a wrapping machine designed to facilitate the wrapping of articles in layer form such as sliced bread, sliced 6 cake, cookies and other bakery products.

In the wrapping of sliced bread and the like, it is diicult to hold the row of slices together and in proper position While the parained paper is being wrapped around them.

` One important object of this invention is to provide a novel machine wherein sliced bread or the like may be placed and held in assembled form during the wrapping operation.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel machine of this description having means for properly positioning` a pile of wrapping sheets in relation to the position of the material to be wrapped.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character having means whereby the machine may be adjusted to suit the different lengths of packages to be wrapped.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class wherein the presser jaws used to hold the material to be wrapped are vertically adjustable to be posi--` tioned in accordance with the height of the pile of wrapper sheets in use.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the holding jaws closed.

Figure 2 is a view of the upper part of Figure 1 with the holding jaws open.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 6 is a detail part of Figure 5 but with l the holding jaw shown in its raised position.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein shown there is provided a table having a top 10 supported on legs 11 which are tied together and to the table by the usual braces 12. On top of'this table are arranged a series of movable guides 13. Each of these guides has a foot 14 resting at on the table and provided with a longitudinal slot 15. For each guide the table is provided with an upstanding pin 16 which enters the slot l5 and a thumb screw 17 passes through said slot and into the table. The screw and pin thus hold the guide to rectilinear movement while the screw serves to clamp it in adjusted position. The several guides are arranged about a rectangular space in the center of the table so that the guides may be adjusted to accommodate the size of the wrapper sheets W and thus properly position a pile of such sheets.

Fixed to each side of the table adjacent its center is a bracket having a vertical body 18 and an outwardly projecting arm 19 at its upper end. Mounted on each bracket is a slide 20 having an outwardly projecting arm 21 at its upper end and an adjusting screw 22 passes through a suitable opening in the arm 19 and is screwed through the arm 21 so that, by rotating the screw 22 the slide may be raised or lowered in accordance with the direction of rotation of the screw.

Projecting outwardly from the lower end of the bracket 20 is an arm 23 whereto are pivoted at spaced points the lower ends of a pair of parallel motion links 24 carrying on their upper ends a head 25 to which they are similarly pivoted. Projecting up from the inner end of each head 25 is a boss or lug 26 having a horizontal opening therethrough and through this opening slides the shank 27 of a presser jaw 28. A thumb screw 29 serves to secure the shank in adjusted position in the lug.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the jaws 28 can be adjusted up and down and also toward and from each other so as to suit the height of the pile of wrappers and the length of the group of slices to be Wrapped.

Extending between the lower ends of the front pair of the legs 11 is a bar 30 carrying eyes 3l to which are pivoted the front ends of a pair of pedals 32 arranged closely side by side so that the operator may step selectively on either of the pedals or may step on both at the same time. Each of these pedals has its rear end connected by a link 33 with one arm of a bell crank 34 pivoted beneath the top 10 and having its other arm connected by a link 35 with the inner link of a respective pair of the links 24. A spring 36 is attached to the link 35 and to a suitable port projecting from the top 10 and serves to urge the link inwardly of the table and thus the jaws are urged toward each other and the pedals are urged to raised position.

In operation the guides 13 are positioned to suit the size of the wrappers to be used and a pile of wrappers W is placed on the table between the guides. A loaf of bread B is placed on the pile of wrappers and the' positions of the jaws adjusted to bring them to theproper height and to space them so that they will press lightlyl on the ends of the sliced loaf under the influence of the springs 36. This may be done with an unsliced loaf for ease of manipulation in setting the machine. When the machine is set and the sample loaf removed the operator steps on both pedals at the same time and moves the jaws to open position as in Figure 2. He then places the sliced loaf on the pile of wrapper sheets between the jaws and releases the pressure on the pedals whereupon the jaws close and center the loaf on the upper wrapper, holding the slices lightly pressed together. The wrapper sheet is now wrapped around the loaf, the operator's hands being free for this purpose. The operator now depresses one pedal whereupon the corresponding jaw moves away from the loaf so that the wrapper may be tucked at this end, the remaining jaw acting as an abutment to hold the loaf from sliding across the table. He next shifts his foot to the other pedal and performs the wrapping operation at the other end of the loaf. This iinishes the wrapping and the wrapped loaf is removed. From time to time, as he works down through the pile of wrapper sheets, he may adjust the heights of the jaws.

It will be observed that by reason of the formation of the jaws and their shanks they are readily withdrawn from the tubular wrapper before the ends are tucked. It is further to be noted that a skilled operator may operate on both ends at once, simply placing his hands in position to hold the end slices in proper place and then stepping on both pedals to withdraw both jaws and thus free both ends for the end folding operation, thereby increasing the speed at which the work can be turned out.

When all of the folding is completed, it being understood that the usual paramn paper is employed, the operator now takes the loaf by both ends and revolving it about one half turn passes it into the sealer commonly used for sealing such packages, with the lap down against the hot plate of such sealer. Obviously this sealer does not form a part of the present invention and is not here shown.

There has thus been provided a simple and eilicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specied.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore desired to conne the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is is claimed as new, is:

1. In a machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of opposed presser jaws mounted to reciprocate toward and from each other over said table, spring means urging said'jaws to close toward each other, means to adjust the height of said jaws above the table, a pair of pedals arranged closely side by side for selective and simultaneous operation, and operative connections each connecting a respective pedal with a respective jaw.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of opposed presser jaws mounted to reciprocate toward and from each other over said table, spring means urging said jaws to close toward each other, said jaws being adjustable toward and from each other to vary the normal spacing between the jaws, means to secure the jaws in said adjusted positions, means to adjust the height of said jaws above the table, a pair of pedals arranged closely side by side for selective and simultaneous operation, and operative connections each connecting a respective pedal with a respective jaw.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets at the sides of saidtable, a slide for each bracket mounted thereon for vertical sliding movement, means to adjust the slides vertically on the brackets, a pair of jaw supporting headsfpairs of parallel motion links, each pair connecting a respective slide and head, presser jaws carried by said heads, springs urging said heads toward each other, and pedal means operatively connected to said links to move the heads apart against the action of said springs.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets at the sides of said table, a slide for each bracket mounted thereon for vertical sliding movement, means to adjust the slides vertically on the brackets, a pair of jaw supporting heads, pairs of parallel motion links,l each pair connecting a respective slide and head, presser jaws carried by said heads, said jaws being movable longitudinally of the 'respective heads for adjustment toward and from each other, means to secure said jaws in adjusted position relative to their heads,

springs urging said heads toward each other, and

pedal means operatively connected to said links to move the heads apart against the action of said springs.

5. In a machine Vof the kind described, a table, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets at the sides of said table, a slide f or each bracket mounted thereon for vertical sliding movement, means to adjust the slides vertically on the brackets, a pair of jaw supporting heads, pairs of parallel motion links, each pair connecting a respective slide and head, presser jaws carried by said heads, springs4 urging said heads toward each other, a pair of pedals arranged closely side by side for selective and simultaneous operation, and operative connections each connecting a respectivepedal with a link of a respective pair of said parallel motion links.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets at the sides of said table, a slide for each bracket mounted thereon for vertical sliding movement, means to adjust the slides vertically on the brackets, a pair of jaw supporting heads, pairs of parallel mo'tion links, each pair connecting a respective slide and head, presser jaws carried by said heads, said jaws being movable longitudinally of the respective heads for adjustment toward and from each other, means to secure said jaws in adjusted position relative to their heads, springs urging said heads toward each other, a pair of pedals arranged closely side by side for selective and simultaneous operation, and operativeV connections each connecting a respective pedal with a link of a respective pair of said parallel motion 7. In a machine ot the kind described, a table, a pair of opposedpresser jaws mounted to reciprocate toward and from each other over said table, spring means urging said jaws to close toward each other, means to adjust the height of said jaws above the table, parallel motion devices connected to the jaws and raised and lowered by the last mentioned means, pedals, and operative connections between 'respective'pedals and parallel motion devices.

8. Ina machine of the kind described, a table, a pair of opposed presser jaws mounted to reciprocate toward and from each other over said table, spring means urging said jaws to close toward each other, said jaws being adjustable toward and from each other to vary the normal spacing between the jaws, means to secure the jaws in -sad adjusted positions, means to adjust the height of said jaws above the table, parallel motion devices connected to the jaws and raised and lowered by the last mentioned means, pedals, and operative connections between respective pedals and parallel motion devices.

9. In a bread wrapping machine, a table, opposed presser jaws working over said table, means to operate said jaws selectively for simultaneousand for independent movements and including a parallel motion devicel for each jaw, and means to adjust each parallel motion device and its jaw vertically.

HARL C. SIMMONS. 

